TO THE VICTORIA & GEORGE CROSS

George Gardiner (1821-1891) was born at Warrenpoint, County Down on 18th July 1821. He enlisted in the 57th Regiment of Foot (later the Middlesex Regiment) and was posted to Lifford Barracks in 1846. George married Elizabeth Courtney in 1848, and their eldest son, George, was born a year later in 1849.

In 1854, George and his Regiment were embarking for the Crimea, where George would distinguish himself on two separate occasions the following year. On the 22nd March 1855, at Sebastopol, the enemy had launched a sortie and pushed the British lines back. Gardiner was instrumental in rallying the covering parties and then regaining the trenches from the Russians. Two months later, on 18th June 1855, during an attack on the Redan, Gardiner himself remained behind and encouraged others to remain in the holes made by the explosion of shells, and whence they were able to keep up a continuous fire until their ammunition was exhausted, and the enemy cleared away from the parapet.

Gardiner was discharged from the Regiment in 1861, and he was reposted, as Sergeant Major, to the permanent staff of the Prince of Wales Own Donegal Militia, based at Lifford. Gardiner died in Lifford on 17th November 1891, and he was buried in Clonleigh Churchyard, Lifford. His medals are held by the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment RHQ in Canterbury, Kent though are not publicly displayed.